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hazelfizz's review against another edition
2.0
"Handmaid's Tale" for tweens. Sociologically 40 years out of date writing, and implausibly class based 20th century USA.
katieb_93's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing
This is one of the most powerful and touching books I believe I’ve ever read. I’m so glad I stumbled upon this title.
Truly, a modern-day classic
I’ll be thinking about Hanna, her universe and her decisions for a long time.
This is one of the most powerful and touching books I believe I’ve ever read. I’m so glad I stumbled upon this title.
Truly, a modern-day classic
I’ll be thinking about Hanna, her universe and her decisions for a long time.
chicktaylor_'s review against another edition
3.0
This was odd and strange. It is sad. Not a bad book. It just isn't something I could come to say I enjoy.
akayeh's review against another edition
5.0
Bridge Daughter
It is not often that I find myself fully in tears at the end of a book. This is well worth the read.
It is not often that I find myself fully in tears at the end of a book. This is well worth the read.
jevvec's review against another edition
4.0
I received a free copy of this book through the Kindle Scout programme so I think I should write a review. I rarely write reviews and this one is particularly difficult because I have mixed feelings about the book. On the one hand the book is very well written and on the other hand it is rather disturbing as it gives us gives us a world very much like ours where there is a large underclass of bridge daughters who really have no hope and are generally treated very badly. The worst thing is that the bridge daughter's life ends when the baby is born. Hanna, the heroine, is a bridge daughter who tries to escape her fate. I felt very invested in her struggle and wanted her to live but was not happy to learn that the only way for her to survive was for her child to die. I'm afraid I like my stories to be more positive but this one certainly gave me food for thought and engaged my emotions. Although the idea of bridge daughters is interesting I can't see that there would be any evolutionary advantage and the parents can't really start to live life as a family for 13 years, being an older parent of a small child is not easy. However, if you can avoid thinking about that aspect this it is a good story.
dansanders's review against another edition
5.0
Do you grow up and become your own person or slowly succumb to your own biological predispositions and societal pressures?
Great sci-fi premise executed expertly by Jim Nelson.
Great sci-fi premise executed expertly by Jim Nelson.
jeanz's review against another edition
4.0
INITIAL THOUGHTS
Approaching reading this e-copy I was really looking forward to learning more about the dystopic society. I also think reading the excerpt and being a part of the kindle scout program voting has increased by anticipation for reading the book.
THOUGHTS WHILST READING
2% After discovering this one via kindle scout I knew that I had to read it!"
30% In just one word? "Intriguing"....don't want to put it down!"
REVIEW
The cover is really cleverly done, as it represents the main concept of the book really well. The sky on the cover looks weighed down and quite turbulent, There's a wide expanse of water and the only way across is via the bridge, which look narrow and lonely. You'll understand these "little nods" to the actual plot when you read the book. To explain in detail would reveal too many spoilers, but believe me this cover fits the book and its contents perfectly. Before reading the book I would possibly have thought it's genre to be a spiritual one, then I guess after reading the book you could apply the word spiritual to it too.
Would this cover make me pick this book up in a bookstore? This is a toughie, because on cover alone. . . I'd have to say I'm not sure I would. However if it was filed/dis[played under the heading of Sci-fi & Dystopian, then I definitely would.
The central issue about this dystopian society is that reproduction has totally changed and is not done in the same way anymore. It's a much more complicated procedure. The society also has much different approach and attitude toward reproduction too. I'm struggling to explain more whilst not giving away spoilers. Girls can become pregnant from the age of 13! and having a baby is considered a great and special gift. Bridge Parties are the popular party that every girl seems to want. Though not all members of society think they are either a good idea or ae very appropriate for their own daughters to attend. We see this in the book with Hanna's mothers reluctance for her daughter to attend her friends bridge party. Hannah Driscoll is the central character in the book and it is her 13th Birthday, she is sneaking about in her bedroom full of excitement wondering if "it" has happened. She swiftly retrieves a pink box which is hidden under her mattress. She pulls out the item from the box and rushes to the bathroom. The other item secreted under her bed mattress is a book from the "before time"so it is very old. This book covers reproduction, though it is in the "old way". This book is considered child like and simplistic in it's descriptions. In fact this book that Hannah treasures has some quite comedic elements to it, for example the section that talks about the father and son cooking dinner whilst the pregnant mother rests. . . it's funny because the father and son are clueless and end up burning the dinner! The book does impart some practical advice about pregnancy and the reader can follow the pregnancy from conception to birth. Hanna flicks through the book, looking up her "symptoms" to see is they could be a sign she too may be pregnant! Even though Hanna has this book, she is still totally confused as to how her friends Alondra and Cheryl were pregnant. Though Hanna seem excited about the possibility of being pregnant, both a coveted, and special state to be in she still has he doubts about it, she isn't totally convinced she truly wants to be pregnant at all. Though Hanna has been home schooled she secretly longs to attend college, doing something about the plants and flowers she loves so much. Hanna's mother is unaware of the "old times" book and "pink box" that her daughter has. Hanna knows she did something wrong and bad when she stole the pink box containing the "test" in it when she took it from So Hanna peers at the test which she has carried out exactly how the instructions say and she has two purple lines. . . . which even after reading the instructions over and over Hanna doesn't understand. She reads and re-reads what it means when you have two purple lines on the test until her parents call for her to have dinner. It's a little dinner party and her aunt and uncle will be attending so Hanna almost forgets about her two purple lines and the two long words she doesn't understand. It's not until much later when she feels ill and dizzy that she blurts out the two long strange words with an unknown meaning. Though Hanna has no chance to ask what is wrong and why everyone looks so shocked and seemingly horrified as she floats into the darkness.
I enjoyed the pace of the book and adored the slow revealing of the dystopian societies ways to reproduce and it's thoughts and feelings on pregnancy. The book is so good at making you ask lots of questions as you read it. Are all the questions answered by the end of the book? no. This book really slowly build the suspense up a little at a time, then just when you think you are going to receive all those answers (the main ones being, what does two purple lines mean? and what do the two mysterious and long unknown words are? and what do they mean? Is it good or bad?) the book ends!!! Oh No!!
So to say this book leaves you wanting much more is an understatement! I'd be reading the next one now if it was available!
Did I enjoy the book? Yes! Would I recommend the book? Yes, I've already been bending my daughters ear about it. Though to be totally truthfully I have been rattling on about this book since I read the sampler on Kindle scout and voted for it. I was over the moon when they chose to publish it. Would I want to read another book in the series? Yesss! I would read the next book now if I could. In my opinion this book genuinely is a strong start to a potentially brilliant series. so I definitely want . . no need to read more.
Would I want to read other titles by Jim Nelson? I will certainly take a look at anything written by this author, especially if it is more like titles similar to this.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Hmm ended a bit abruptly....left me wanting much more! Looking forward to the next book!
Approaching reading this e-copy I was really looking forward to learning more about the dystopic society. I also think reading the excerpt and being a part of the kindle scout program voting has increased by anticipation for reading the book.
THOUGHTS WHILST READING
2% After discovering this one via kindle scout I knew that I had to read it!"
30% In just one word? "Intriguing"....don't want to put it down!"
REVIEW
The cover is really cleverly done, as it represents the main concept of the book really well. The sky on the cover looks weighed down and quite turbulent, There's a wide expanse of water and the only way across is via the bridge, which look narrow and lonely. You'll understand these "little nods" to the actual plot when you read the book. To explain in detail would reveal too many spoilers, but believe me this cover fits the book and its contents perfectly. Before reading the book I would possibly have thought it's genre to be a spiritual one, then I guess after reading the book you could apply the word spiritual to it too.
Would this cover make me pick this book up in a bookstore? This is a toughie, because on cover alone. . . I'd have to say I'm not sure I would. However if it was filed/dis[played under the heading of Sci-fi & Dystopian, then I definitely would.
The central issue about this dystopian society is that reproduction has totally changed and is not done in the same way anymore. It's a much more complicated procedure. The society also has much different approach and attitude toward reproduction too. I'm struggling to explain more whilst not giving away spoilers. Girls can become pregnant from the age of 13! and having a baby is considered a great and special gift. Bridge Parties are the popular party that every girl seems to want. Though not all members of society think they are either a good idea or ae very appropriate for their own daughters to attend. We see this in the book with Hanna's mothers reluctance for her daughter to attend her friends bridge party. Hannah Driscoll is the central character in the book and it is her 13th Birthday, she is sneaking about in her bedroom full of excitement wondering if "it" has happened. She swiftly retrieves a pink box which is hidden under her mattress. She pulls out the item from the box and rushes to the bathroom. The other item secreted under her bed mattress is a book from the "before time"so it is very old. This book covers reproduction, though it is in the "old way". This book is considered child like and simplistic in it's descriptions. In fact this book that Hannah treasures has some quite comedic elements to it, for example the section that talks about the father and son cooking dinner whilst the pregnant mother rests. . . it's funny because the father and son are clueless and end up burning the dinner! The book does impart some practical advice about pregnancy and the reader can follow the pregnancy from conception to birth. Hanna flicks through the book, looking up her "symptoms" to see is they could be a sign she too may be pregnant! Even though Hanna has this book, she is still totally confused as to how her friends Alondra and Cheryl were pregnant. Though Hanna seem excited about the possibility of being pregnant, both a coveted, and special state to be in she still has he doubts about it, she isn't totally convinced she truly wants to be pregnant at all. Though Hanna has been home schooled she secretly longs to attend college, doing something about the plants and flowers she loves so much. Hanna's mother is unaware of the "old times" book and "pink box" that her daughter has. Hanna knows she did something wrong and bad when she stole the pink box containing the "test" in it when she took it from So Hanna peers at the test which she has carried out exactly how the instructions say and she has two purple lines. . . . which even after reading the instructions over and over Hanna doesn't understand. She reads and re-reads what it means when you have two purple lines on the test until her parents call for her to have dinner. It's a little dinner party and her aunt and uncle will be attending so Hanna almost forgets about her two purple lines and the two long words she doesn't understand. It's not until much later when she feels ill and dizzy that she blurts out the two long strange words with an unknown meaning. Though Hanna has no chance to ask what is wrong and why everyone looks so shocked and seemingly horrified as she floats into the darkness.
I enjoyed the pace of the book and adored the slow revealing of the dystopian societies ways to reproduce and it's thoughts and feelings on pregnancy. The book is so good at making you ask lots of questions as you read it. Are all the questions answered by the end of the book? no. This book really slowly build the suspense up a little at a time, then just when you think you are going to receive all those answers (the main ones being, what does two purple lines mean? and what do the two mysterious and long unknown words are? and what do they mean? Is it good or bad?) the book ends!!! Oh No!!
So to say this book leaves you wanting much more is an understatement! I'd be reading the next one now if it was available!
Did I enjoy the book? Yes! Would I recommend the book? Yes, I've already been bending my daughters ear about it. Though to be totally truthfully I have been rattling on about this book since I read the sampler on Kindle scout and voted for it. I was over the moon when they chose to publish it. Would I want to read another book in the series? Yesss! I would read the next book now if I could. In my opinion this book genuinely is a strong start to a potentially brilliant series. so I definitely want . . no need to read more.
Would I want to read other titles by Jim Nelson? I will certainly take a look at anything written by this author, especially if it is more like titles similar to this.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Hmm ended a bit abruptly....left me wanting much more! Looking forward to the next book!
hungrybookworm_meg's review against another edition
4.0
This was another book that caught my attention based on the concept alone. I'm always a fan of dystopian novels, but in the beginning it's so subtle that when the difference between this world and our own, it's almost jarring. I have recommended this to many friends - it's quick, easy and thought-provoking. Read my full review (and the accompanying author-approved Zucchini Pancakes recipe) at my blog, The Hungry Bookworm - https://hungry-bookworm.com/2016/08/11/bridge-daughter-lemon-zucchini-pancakes/
becxreadz's review against another edition
4.0
A unique story although a bit puzzling as to why this fictional world is the way it is. Kept me reading.